Which project delivery method often offers the owner a fixed price?

In the context of project delivery methods, the Design-Build approach is structured to streamline the process by combining both design and construction services under one contract. This integrated method allows for a fixed price to be established early in the project, providing owners with cost certainty.

In Design-Build contracts, the owner typically engages a single entity—a design-build team comprising architects and contractors—that is responsible for both the design and construction phases. This arrangement fosters enhanced communication and collaboration, which can lead to more efficient problem-solving and innovation throughout the project.

The fixed price is beneficial as it helps manage budget expectations and mitigates risk for the owner, particularly in scenarios where changes might arise during the design and construction phases. The contractor takes on a greater level of risk since they must complete the project within the agreed budget, thus incentivizing them to deliver high-quality work within the specified constraints.

Both Design-Bid-Build and Construction Management methods typically do not provide a fixed price until later in the process, as the owner first must complete design work before soliciting bids or negotiating construction contracts. The Multiple Prime approach also lacks a fixed price upfront because it involves multiple contracts for various trades, making it more difficult to establish a comprehensive fixed price from the onset.